June
12th 1925. Anaheim, Calif
Dear
folks at Hooppole.
Your
letter which you hoped would get to me by June 3rd
just
reached me June 12th. I was here last Sunday and
spoke in
the Evangelical Church and they at once asked me to come again
for
next Sunday. Then I got a chance to go to Fresno with Jerry
Behrns
and just got back this evening and found your letter here. I
had a
long fine trip which cost me nothing. Did not get to Yosemite
Valley
that was too expensive but went to Grants Park and saw the big
trees
and some very fine mountain scenery. Looked more like
Switzerland
than anything I have seen yet in America. I stayed with
Kendalls. They have their own house and he works for a
painter. He is taking
the Abrams treatment for ulcers in the stomach and thinks he
is
coming out alright. They talk about going back to Africa. On
the
way back we stopped at Shafter and spent a night with Hoyts.
He is
station agent and they live in rooms above the station. They
too are
talking about going to Africa but don’t know when. Now before
answering your questions I have something to put up to you
only to
get your opinion however. The Church where Hilgenfeld preaches
is
looking for a preacher and they want me to take the place. I
am to
go there a week from Sunday (pg. 2) and will I guess get a
strong
bid. It is at Buena Park only about 6 miles from Anaheim. the
only
objection I have to it is that it belongs to the
Congregational
Church but Hilgenfeld says they never gave him any trouble at
all. It is the only church in that town so there is no
Ministerial
Association to bother with. The church is old fashioned but
the
house is a very good one all except the bath room but I think
that
could be fixed and Albert S. thinks I ought to take it and
says he
thinks they would pay me $2000 a year. I would’nt consider it
at
all until I discovered that at Fullerton 4 miles away they
have one
of the best High Schools and Junior College in California and
a bus
takes students in every day without charge. That would make it
possible for the boys to finish High School and Junior College
without tuition. I am staying now with George Schmid and their
oldest boy just graduated there and I attended the
Commencement
Exercise and went through all the buildings and it all looked
very
fine. They wont take any teachers there who have not at some
time
been engaged in Christian work and they dont have any dummies.
They
have got the finest buildings and best equipment I ever saw.
Of
course its not very nice to be 4 miles away but it takes the
(pg. 3)
School bus only a few minutes to get there so that is not so
bad. If
they urge me very much and you think it might be alright I
thought I
would say that if they allowed me to be ordained in an
Interdenominational Church like the Church of the Open Door at
the
Bible Institute that I might consider it but not if I must
join the
Congregational Church. Hilgenfeld said they never asked him to
change from the Evangelicals and he has been there five years.
Now
just say what you think about it without feeling I will rush
into it. I like San Bernardino much better as a place to live
and they have a
very fine High School there and are planning a Junior college
too. I
think I can get plenty of opportunities for speaking for at
least a
year and Zeller says he’s sure the Evangelicals will give me
work
next year if I want it, but of course this is possible now and
2000 a
year with house and good schools looks mighty good. I don’t
think
I need to worry about my health. I am eating mostly fruit now
and it
is making a new man of me and will I think continue to do so.
I
think if I go about to different places I may find something
that
will suit much better than Buena Park. The strong pull for San
Bernardino is to have the (pg. 4) boys in Albert B’s church.
We go
up there as soon as I can and see what the chances are for
work and
if there seems to be nothing at all we may be forced to take
this
church. Hilgenfeld stays there until Aug. 1st. Now
if
that appeals to you at all you had better come as soon as you
can and
look it over before we decide definitely. It all depends on
how much
they want me. Perry Watkis said tonight that Hilgenfeld called
up
several times to know where I was so I think they are trying
to get
hold of me, but I wont do anything until I consider very
carefully. If I speak there next Sunday I am going to come out
as straight and
as strong as I know how, and if they can stand that I guess
they’ll
stand anything I might say later on. Now about that trunk. If
you
need it of course it will be alright (but if you could make
the old
trunk do and with straps I think you can) that would be better
as we
will have no use for the trunk unless we go to Africa soon
which I
dont think is likely. I think the book will be alright in Miss
Messenger’s box or any wooden box would do. (for instance one
of
those Richard and I sent from Anawan?) I wish I could be there
and
help. Now about Raymond. I hate awfully to see him stay
behind. Not that I dont think he could come (pg. 5) alone. He
can do that
better than the rest of us but I know what it means to travel
all
alone and I hate to see anyone undertake it, but if he is
getting on
alright with his work when you leave I guess it will be
alright. The
best way for you to come would be either (by the North western
to
Salt Lake City and then the Salt Lake City and Los Angeles
line
which is only a continuation of the North Western or Union
Pacific)
or a more direct line would be by the Santa Fe straight to San
Bernardino. Both of these lines take you direct to San
Bernardino. The Union Pacific is I think the shortest and
cheapest, but neither
go to Beloit or Colorado Springs. To do that you will have to
change
a good deal. On the Union Pacific you could get your train at
Morriano and never get out until you are at San Bernardino.
The same
on the Santa Fe if you go to Galesburg. I just got a letter
from
Brooklyn with a check for $100 from St Paul (Normans church)
so now I
have about $170 dollars. Do you want me to send you any. If
you
dont I will use to furnish a room or get what seems necessary,
but I
think I can leave most of that until you come. My how good
that
sounds. I am quite sure you will never (pg. 6) regret the move
we
are making. The more I see of California the better I like it
and I
am afraid the offer to come back if you want me to, wont hold
very
long. I wont decide on anything definite until you get here
but I
dont think we need to worry about a living. My talks seem to
take
very well and will I am sure find an opening for me. Kendall
said
there is a church in Fresno looking for a preacher and thinks
I might
get it. It is true there are many preachers here looking for a
job
but they are all too old or something else wrong that nobody
wants
them but I think you will like San Bernardino best only it
will be
very hot when you get there but always cool at night like
Africa. Buena Park is only 12 miles from the ocean and always
cool while San
Bernardino (or San Berdie) as they call it here is close to
the
mountains and 65 miles from the ocean but a very pretty place.
You
will come at end of dry season so it may not be so nice then,
but I
am sure you will like it. Now keep on firing questions either
by
letter or better still by mouth. I would almost rather you
would
stay and all come together but if you think Raymond can come
alone I
wont object. Do what you think best but come as soon as you
can.
Yours
waiting for the day
John
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